Z5 FILMS
Contributor
People these days will do ANYTHING for their pets and they are pretty much members of the family.
I got a new dog recently and have been looking at places to board her. All the places I look at were not all that impressive. I know she's just a dog, but I don't want her sitting in a 3x3 cage for days on end, even if it is only $30 a day. I would be willing to pay a lot for for the dog to have more luxury. I have found no "luxury" boarding for privilaged dogs. Even ones that were reccomended to me as being "really nice", were not what I'm looking for. They are mostly kept in cages or in small empty concrete rooms where there's 50 other dogs in similar rooms barking all day (and night I'm assuming).
When I pick my dog up, it sleeps for 2 days straight, even if it's only boarded for one night. I'm guessing it's kept up all night with the barking and probably contributes a lot herself.
Here's my thoughts...
What if there was a luxury hotel for dogs? Think "Bellagio for dogs" (or cats too I guess). It looks and and is run like a hotel. There's no cages in there. It's all private rooms, just like a hotel. Something the size of say a Holiday Inn Express I'm thinking? Each dog gets it's own luxury (sound proof) room, and customers can monitor the dog in it's room via CCTV on the internet. I have seen the CCTV thing before, but you just get to watch your dog sit in a empty concrete cage for the most part. No luxury at all.
The website would have a "gift shop" or "room service" where you can order dog treats online or with you mobile phone, and watch as it's delivered to your dog via the CCTV connection. Have a "day spa" and other little ad-ons that the customer can buy. All can be monitored via CCTV.
Cost could possibly be lower cost than operating a HI Express cause you don't have all the linens and maid services. Plus HI Express has nothing to upsell you with. No room service, no bar, no gift shop....nothing. You pay your $140+ and that's it's (unless you order adult movies on the TV).
My luxury pet hotel would have all kinds of upsells. Day spa, grooming, snacks, day trips to the park, etc. There's all kinds of perks you could add on. Most mobile phones have picture messaging these days. My friend has a camera out at his ranch that takes a picture every hour and sends it to his website where people can look at the pictures. I'm thinking something similar for the pet hotel. Instead of going to the website, the pictures are sent to a mobile phone. Just "extras" like that you could tack on.
I have not given it much thought, nor looked into if any such thing already exsists. It just crossed my mind while looking for a new place to board the dog....again. I have shopped at what were considered "the best" boarders in Houston and some of Austin, I personally have never seen such a thing. It may exsist. But it's not here nor there.
For example, in Houston there's a section of town called River Oaks. It's the Beverly Hills of Houston. It's where all the old money oil tycoons live. BIIIIGG money there. There's an "upscale pet resort" there called "Rover Oaks" http://www.roveroaks.com/HomeDisplay.aspx
I saw it. It's not any more impressive than some no-name boarding house anywhere else.
8x8 concrete room for $34 a day, plus all the extras? No thanks. I can get the dog 20x20' room with a King bed, private bathroom, shower, with shampoo, washcloths, and fresh sheets and towels delivered daily for $80 down the street at the local Ramada. And the dog would have a window too.
I seriously think there's a market for it. Surely I'm not the only one that would pay a lot of money to make sure the dog is being taken care of and is comfortable as much as possible. By "a lot" of money, I'm thinking $100/day or so for starters before add-ons. I'm just guessing the price point. I don't know if the market will pay it or if it's even doable. I just know I'm not rich, and I'd pay it. Surely I'm not the only one.
If a 8x8 concrete room is considered "the very best". The bar sure as hell is set low.
Thoughts good or bad?
I got a new dog recently and have been looking at places to board her. All the places I look at were not all that impressive. I know she's just a dog, but I don't want her sitting in a 3x3 cage for days on end, even if it is only $30 a day. I would be willing to pay a lot for for the dog to have more luxury. I have found no "luxury" boarding for privilaged dogs. Even ones that were reccomended to me as being "really nice", were not what I'm looking for. They are mostly kept in cages or in small empty concrete rooms where there's 50 other dogs in similar rooms barking all day (and night I'm assuming).
When I pick my dog up, it sleeps for 2 days straight, even if it's only boarded for one night. I'm guessing it's kept up all night with the barking and probably contributes a lot herself.
Here's my thoughts...
What if there was a luxury hotel for dogs? Think "Bellagio for dogs" (or cats too I guess). It looks and and is run like a hotel. There's no cages in there. It's all private rooms, just like a hotel. Something the size of say a Holiday Inn Express I'm thinking? Each dog gets it's own luxury (sound proof) room, and customers can monitor the dog in it's room via CCTV on the internet. I have seen the CCTV thing before, but you just get to watch your dog sit in a empty concrete cage for the most part. No luxury at all.
The website would have a "gift shop" or "room service" where you can order dog treats online or with you mobile phone, and watch as it's delivered to your dog via the CCTV connection. Have a "day spa" and other little ad-ons that the customer can buy. All can be monitored via CCTV.
Cost could possibly be lower cost than operating a HI Express cause you don't have all the linens and maid services. Plus HI Express has nothing to upsell you with. No room service, no bar, no gift shop....nothing. You pay your $140+ and that's it's (unless you order adult movies on the TV).
My luxury pet hotel would have all kinds of upsells. Day spa, grooming, snacks, day trips to the park, etc. There's all kinds of perks you could add on. Most mobile phones have picture messaging these days. My friend has a camera out at his ranch that takes a picture every hour and sends it to his website where people can look at the pictures. I'm thinking something similar for the pet hotel. Instead of going to the website, the pictures are sent to a mobile phone. Just "extras" like that you could tack on.
I have not given it much thought, nor looked into if any such thing already exsists. It just crossed my mind while looking for a new place to board the dog....again. I have shopped at what were considered "the best" boarders in Houston and some of Austin, I personally have never seen such a thing. It may exsist. But it's not here nor there.
For example, in Houston there's a section of town called River Oaks. It's the Beverly Hills of Houston. It's where all the old money oil tycoons live. BIIIIGG money there. There's an "upscale pet resort" there called "Rover Oaks" http://www.roveroaks.com/HomeDisplay.aspx
I saw it. It's not any more impressive than some no-name boarding house anywhere else.
8x8 concrete room for $34 a day, plus all the extras? No thanks. I can get the dog 20x20' room with a King bed, private bathroom, shower, with shampoo, washcloths, and fresh sheets and towels delivered daily for $80 down the street at the local Ramada. And the dog would have a window too.
I seriously think there's a market for it. Surely I'm not the only one that would pay a lot of money to make sure the dog is being taken care of and is comfortable as much as possible. By "a lot" of money, I'm thinking $100/day or so for starters before add-ons. I'm just guessing the price point. I don't know if the market will pay it or if it's even doable. I just know I'm not rich, and I'd pay it. Surely I'm not the only one.
If a 8x8 concrete room is considered "the very best". The bar sure as hell is set low.
Thoughts good or bad?
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